Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-03-03
THE REPORT SUBMITTED.
The Soldiers Home Investigating
Committee Make Report.
Miscellaneous News from Lansing.


Miscellaneous News from Lansing.
LANSING. Feb. 2S, 1887.
The report of the committee appointed
to investigate the irregularities OF the sol
diers' home has been finally submitted to
the house. 1t Is voluminous and calculat-
ed to avert any consideration of the irregu-
larities. No mention is made OF Col. Wells
or Maj. Long, and the only one censured
in IL Is the chief nurse. The report says:
I'VE recommend that in the case of Edwin
Downs the board of management take i'm
mediate steps to have justice done by any
action that they may feel right in taking.
BY the evidence, as it appears upon the
report presented herewith, they leave the
testimony referring TO any other irregu-
larties in the hands of the board OF man
agement and invite their close and careful
attention thereto, in the matter of censure
attaching to any person connected with
the home your committee do not deem lt
their duty to go farther than to submit the
evidence for the consideration OF the legis-
lature and the board of managers OF the
home.h Numerous minor recommends
tions are made rs to buildings, hospitals
and routine management. The entire
committee signs the report, and the house
adopted it unanimously.
One of the most animated debates of
the session occurred in the senate the 9th
er afternoon over joint resolution that
our senators and representatives in con-
gress be requested to use their influence
and vote for such legislation as will give
to the state of Michigan, in trust for the
university of Michigan, all the govern
ment lands subject TO entry within the
state, together with such other lands
within the state as may hereafter be sub
ject to entry or shall revert to the general
government by reason of forfeiture"
To this Senator Seymour moved as an
amendment the proviso that all OF the
lands described situated in the upper pen
insula of Michigan shall be given in trust
for such schools or institutions In the up
per peninsula as the legislature may di-
rect. In,spite of all the eloquence and ar
guments in favor of the amendment, it
was voted down and the resolution as in
PRODUCED was agreed to.
In order to facilitate matters the rail
road committees of the two houses have
arranged for joint meeting for the pur-
pose of considering NIL the railroad bills
introduced. In this way the committees
hope by consideration or substitution TO
largely reduce the number of bills and
still cover all the objects aimed at.
The senate committee on the state house
OF correction and branch of the state pris
on in the upper peninsula, reports that
under the act of 1885, a site had been pur-
chased two aud one half miles east OF the
business center of Marquette, in n health
full location, convenient for drainage and
easily supplied with pure water. The plans
for the building were made by VIM. Scott
OF Detroit and are modelled largely after
the lonia house of correction. Work was
commenced in July last. The engine house
Is nearly completed. The dining room and
hospital building is nearly ready for Stat
ing and the foundation walls of the admin
istration building and west cell wing are
nearly finished. The buildings will be
completed within one year from date.
/ he appropriation asked for the building
and furnishing is SSO,5s2.
The bill to prohibit the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors within mile of the soldiers
home at Grand Rapids, brought out a
pretty sharp discussion participated in
namely by Senators Palmer, j. w. Bah
cock Edwards and Hubbell, though Sena-
tors Deyo, Mayo. w. T.. Babcock and
Sharp each had a few remarks to
make. To the general purpose OF
though there was some disagree
ment as to details. 1t was amended so a
TO insert knowingly and wilfully" in the
clauses prohibiting sale or gilt, and in
this shape passed the committee Of the
whole and subsequently passed on the
order of third reading 10y vote OF Is to 0.
The senate has confirmed the nomina-
ton of Col Heath to be commissioners OF
labor statistics.
The house has killed the bill providing
that no one can be appointed or elected
judge of probate unless he be practicing
attorney.
Hardly has the legislature settled down
10 active work ere the question OF the
probable length of the session is raised.
Members who have been talking about get
ting home the first part OF May are APP
palled at the work before them. In the
house there are POO more bills than there
were two years ago, and in the senate the
number is also in excess OF any previous
record.
Among the petitions sent 70 the house is
very carefully drawn memorial from +.
A. Baker OF Detroit AT the time Mr..
Baker sent To the legislature his paper on
the Baker conspiracy law, he promised at
some future time to con,ider some of the
relations between employer and employe:
The memorial presented to-day consisted
chiefly OF O statement OF existing laws and
decisions upon the subject OF damages to
employe, through accidents or negligence.
MIR. Baker holds that juries ought TO be
allowed to award damages in excess OF
actual damages in cases of injury through
the negligence OF corporations. lie dis
Gus g, the doctrine that a servant cannot
recover for damages caused by the neglect
of a fellow servant. he refers TO the EN-
ployers' liability act adopted in England
in 1850, and states that he has bill adapt
ing thatact 20 this state The bill was
sent to member from Oakland, with the
memorial, and has been introduced
one of the bills to be considered by the
house is one amending the laws in refer
ence to compensation for causing death
by wrongful act, neglect or default" The
amendment incorporates into the section
the words, Including such general dam
ages for injuries to the feelings and affec-
tions and for less of society as the jury
under all facts and circumstances OF the
case may deem Just and reasonable, and
in cases of wilful act and gross negligence
exemplary damages may be awarded as
in both cases"
A bill introduced by Representative
Harrington is intended to extend and
regulate the liability of employers to make
comIes .tion for personal injuries suffered
by workmed in their employ,
Representative Dawson IL of the opinion
that VIII tever law for the regulation or
prohibition OF the liquor traffic may be
passed. il should be enforced, and he has
intr, duced bill providing for the APP
pointment by the governor OF q state
mar hall whose duty IL shall be to enforce
the law. The marshall is given power to
appoint deputy in every county, and
whenever a complaint is made OF viola
ton of the law, the marshall or his depu-
ties shall proceed against such person and
shall shall have the So me powers in execut-
ing the laws as the sheriffs may have.
Almost every other phase Of the liquor
question is represented by some measure.
The committee on the liquor traffic have
seen to il that measures are in hand to
reach the main questions that may arise,
either with or without the adoption Of